Influential Hawaii Waterman and keen environmentalist George Downing died peacefully in his sleep early Monday morning, said his son Keone Downing. He was celebrated as a big-wave pioneer by many of the worlds best big wave riders & waterman of his time up to today’s greatest. George was a Makaha surfing champion, trusted teacher, and adviser to multiple generations all the way to the present.

It was nearly 35 years ago, back in 1984, when Downing created the single day, Big-Wave Quiksilver Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau at Waimea Bay. Keone said his father founded the now iconic event “because he didn’t want to do just a surf contest, he wanted something special and he wanted to do it a certain way.” As director of the event, George was the one who ‘made the call’ to go or not to go for 3 decades!

The Downing Hawaii surf shop in Kaimuki has been in business since the 60’s and is Hawaii’s oldest surf shop. Goerge was also an early member of Save Our Surf, leading local grassroots environmental causes. He was a smart advocate after founder John Kelly’s death.